Chrysanthemum named Lexington

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum characterized by its single flower form, the clear yellow of its ray florets which do not bronze when finished cool, and flowers which are 3 to 31/2 inches in diameter when grown as a spray pot plant. This plant is also distinguished by its vigorous and upright pot habit which is adaptable to cut flower production and by its abundant, deeply serrated dark green foliage.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

This new variety of chrysanthemum plant originated as a seedling ofunidentified parentage and was discovered by me in 1972 among greenhouseplants cultivated by me at Westfield-Woking, Surrey, England, with theobject of developing improved chrysanthemum varieties for the commercialmarket. Asexual reproduction of this new plant was done by me atWestfield-Woking, Surrey, England, by means of cuttings from theoriginal plant and further propagation, by means of vegetative cuttings,carried on at West Chicago, Ill., and at Cortez, Fla., has demonstratedthat the distinctive characteristics of this new chrysanthemum plant arefirmly fixed and hold true from generation to generation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

My new chrysanthemum plant is illustrated by the accompanying drawingswhich show the form and color characteristics of the flowers as theyappear on a fully grown potted plant and which show the configuration oftypical leaves of this new variety by means of pen-and-ink sketches. Thecolor rendition of the floral illustration has been done by conventionalphotographic procedures and is believed to be as nearly true as it isreasonably possible to obtain, the plant shown having flowered in May1976.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new variety ofchrysanthemum plant according to data obtained by observation ofgreenhouse plants grown at West Chicago, Ill., and flowered in themonths of January, May and August, the color designations beingaccording to The R.H.S. Colour Chart published by the RoyalHorticultural Society of London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage: Unidentified, this seedling appearing among plants resultingfrom random crosses.

Classification:

Botanic.--Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Commercial.--Greenhouse pot plant.

Form: Upright, perennial herbaceous bush.

Height: 11 to 15 inches.

Growth: Terminal, upright and vigorous, sturdy, with very good strength.

Branching: Normal, under natural conditions.

Foliage: Abundant, six to eight leaves on 4 inches of stem.

Size of leaf.--4 to 41/2 inches long and 17/8 to 21/2 inches wide forthe mature leaf.

Shape.--Lobed, deeply serrated.

Texture.--Canescent.

Venation.--Pinnately veined.

Color.--Upper side -- Green 139A; Under side -- Green 137B.

petioles.--11/4 to 11/2 inches long.

THE BUD

Form: Almost global.

Size: Diameter -- 7/16 inch; depth -- 5/16 inch.

Opening: Slowly

    ______________________________________                                        Color:             Summer     Winter                                          ______________________________________                                        When phyllaries first divide:                                                                    Yellow 8A  Yellow 10A                                      When florets begin to unfurl:                                                                    Yellow 12A Yellow 12B                                      ______________________________________                                    

Phyllaries: Many involucral upstanding bracts on outside of thereceptacle.

Shape.--Spear-shaped.

Color.--Inside -- Green 138A; Outside -- Green 137B.

surface texture.--Pubescent.

Peduncle: Erect and 11/4 to 23/4 inches long.

Surface texture.--Pubescent.

THE FLOWER

Response: 10 week.

Recommended flowering: September 15 and June 15 for Northern U.S.A.

Natural flowering season: October 25 to November 2.

Blooms: Flower type -- single and composite.

Borne.--A head of many ray florets borne on a receptacle.

Size.--Medium, 3 to 31/2 inches in diameter and 5/8 to 7/8 inch indepth.

Shape.--Cup-shaped when bloom first opens and becoming flat when fullyopened.

Florets.--Numerous ray florets. Form: Linear. Firmness: Medium.Appearance: Very slight shine.

    ______________________________________                                        Color:     January    May         August                                      ______________________________________                                        Ray florets:                                                                             Yellow 3A  Yellow 6A   Yellow 6A                                   Reverse side:                                                                            Yellow 5B  Yellow 6C-7B                                                                              Yellow 6B                                   ______________________________________                                         Note: January flowering is lighter and brighter than midseason flowering.

Discoloration: Very slight fade as full bloom ages.

Penduncle: Sturdy and upright, 11/4 to 23/4 inches long.

Color.--Yellow-Green 148B.

Persistence: Flowers hang on and dry.

Lasting quality:

On plant.--3 weeks.

As cut flower.--7 to 12 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens: Number -- 5 syngenesious.

Filaments.--1/16 to 1/8 inch long. Color: Light Yellow.

Pollen.--Color -- Yellow.

Pistils: One to each ray and disc floret.

Style.--1/4 to 5/16 inch long.

Stigmas.--Color -- Yellow.

Ovaries.--Inferior bicarpellate.

My new chrysanthemum plant is characterized by its single flower formwith clear yellow ray florets which do not bronze when finished cool andwhich do not reflex upon opening but remain in a more-or-less flat orflat-cupped position for the life of the flower. The flower is 3 to 31/2inches in diameter when grown as a spray plant, has a minimal pollenproduction, and a green coloration of the disc florets prior toattaining maturation.

This new variety is also characterized by its upright pot habit, asopposed to the spreading habit of a Mandalay variety, its abundant darkgreen foliage, and its ability to be flowered year around when nighttemperature can be maintained between 60° and 80° F., the plantflowering approximately 10 weeks from the commencement of short daytreatment.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of chrysanthemum substantiallyas shown and described, characterized by its single flower form withclear yellow ray florets which do not bronze when finished cool andwhich do not reflex upon opening, by its upright pot habit, and by itsabundant production of dark green foliage.